Improvement in rotary steam-engines



WASHBURN RACE.

, #MPROVEMENTSIN ROTARY STEAM ENGINES.

1 1 6 3 5 2 PATENTBD JUN 27 1871 EKX UNITED STATES PATENT @EnronwAsHBURN RACE, on LooKroET, NEw vonk, As-sieNon To WARREN RowLAND INGHAMAND NANCY M. RAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,352, dated June 27,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WAsHBURN RACE, of Loekport, in the county of Niagaraand State of New` York, have invented certain new and usefulIniprovenients in Rotary Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecication:

This invention relates to rotary steam-engines, and consists: First, inconstructing the valveabutinents with conical knuckle-joints, wherebythe same are adapted for adjustment to compensate for wear. It alsoconsists in the provision of means for lubricating the engine, as willbe hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing, Figure l is an axial section. Fig. 2 is an elevationwith the side plate removed, showing the working parts. Fig. 3 is anelevation, showing the opposite side and cut-off disk. Fig. 4 isaperspective view of the valve-abutment with the packing.

A is thel outer circular rim of the case, resting on the standard m,- B,the case of the steamchamber, attached to the outside plate E, (formingpart of the main case.) c is the steam-chamber, and D thesteam-induction pipe for the passage of the live steam. Gis the shaftruiming through the center of the steam-chamber and case, and madehollow (shown at b) for the steam to exhaust through. Attached tothe-shaft and revolving within the steam-chamber, and working close tothe face-plate E of the case, is a fiat disk, F, having a single slot,c, formed in its edge. This disk is the cut-off; its operation is to bepresently described'. In the face-plate E, under this disk, are formedtwo steam-ports, d d', directly opposite each other, and as the diskrevolves the slot c momentarily uncovers them alternately and the steamrushes in. Thesev openings are connected with the steam-space f bychannels e c', one on each side of the shaft, and terminate in recessesor ports g g at opposite points inside the case, and are partiallycovered by wing-valves or abutments h h. (See Fig. 2.) The steam, as itis received alternately into the connecting-channels c c', and throughthe ports g g', forces these abutnients alternately against the piston,and, as it revolves, they shut off any backward escape of the steamwhich forces the piston forward. The piston G is of eccentric form, asshown. The case is stationary, the piston revolving inside carrying theshaft; the Ieccentric part working' close against the inner periphery ofthe case, and,

as it moves around,graduallyr throws one wingabutnientinward, shuttingoff the steam from its port or channel. The other valve is opened by itsrelease from the eccentric head and moves gradually down the incline iof the piston, the steam rushing' into the steam-space j', against thepiston-head i, forcing it forward; the abutment-valve h shutting it offfrom the back space, as before noted. The incline c' is very important,as the valve h is gradually forced down, thereby moving the shaftwithout any jerk, and, from its regular motion, dispensing' with abalance-wheel. The exhaust is accomplished by the central opening orchannel, k, in the pistonwhich leads directly to the hollow shaft C, andexhausts from that into the open air. This channel k is situated nearlyopposite the highest point z' of the eccentric of the rotary piston, sothat when the new steam is beginning to strike against the face of theeccentric theexhausted steam of the opposite side escapes through thischannel. mis a circular metal packing-ring on the side of the piston,(with rubber between it andthe piston,) which forces it against andkeeps the steam from working between the piston and case. n is a metalpacking on the side of the incline of piston-head1', to prevent steamfrom working between the eccentric head and case. The valveabutments h halso have metal packing-pieces o a tight working of them, as when theywear they can be cut off at the small end and athicker packing-piece puton outside. Rests q Q', of rubber, are set in the sides or corners ofspaces g g', to prevent the valves from striking against the iron andresounding. The valves also have a re-enforcing piece, T, set in theends where they strike the incline, 85e., so that they can be easilyrenewed when worn out. H is an oil-pipe passing through or formed in theouter case I and opening into the hollow space J, (see Fig. 2,) justbeneath the eccentric of the piston. This can be filled with oil, andwill greatly facilitate the workin g of the machinery, as it will bethrown out by centrifugal force, and keep the piston in smooth workingorder from the oil that works out. This opening or hole answers anotherpurpose, viz.,

by takin gout from the pistonthe Weight of metal suiiicient tocounterbalance the increased Weight of this side caused by the eccentrichead,wl1icl1 is immediately over it. S is a back-brace to thepiston-head and a gradual guide to close the valveabutments as it passesthem.

The advantages of this construction are inanifold. The incline on theeccentric piston allows the valves to work down gradually, and thebackbraces S S close the same gradually, thus insuri115` a noiselessmotion. The oil-receptacle and pipe H malte the engine self-oiling', theplace requiring lling up onlY at long intervals. From its smooth runningit dispenses with a balance- Wheel. The Working of the cut-ofi' isaccurate and simple. The parts are not liable to get out of order, andits cheapness and simplicity will reconnnend it at once to the notice ofthe prac- Witnesses J. K. BRAKE, EDWARD A. MARTIN.

